NIT Predictions: Can BYU cover the 6 points vs. UT Arlington? 3/15/17

UT Arlington vs. BYU Pick

Will No. 3 BYU be able to hold off an upset-minded No. 6 UT Arlington when the two meet up tonight at 11PM ET in the NIT Tournament?

According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, BYU is the favorite today, as the Cougars are getting odds of -6 points against UT Arlington. The over/under total for the game is listed at 169 points. These two have no recent meetings. They will meet tonight from the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.

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BYU went 22-11 this season to earn this spot in the NIT. The Cougars finished third in the West Coast Conference and own the only win over Gonzaga this season. BYU went 12-16-2 against the spread this season, including 6-9-1 ATS on the road. BYU is averaging 80.4 points per game on offense while allowing 73.3 on defense. Eric Mika is averaging 20.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game to lead the team while TJ Haws is averaging 13.9 points per contest. The team will be without Elijah Bryant, who suffered a knee injury during the conference tournament. He was averaging 11.7 points per game.

UT Arlington went 25-8 this season and won the Sun Belt regular-season title. The Mavericks were 16-11 against the spread this season and averaged 76.3 points per game on offense while giving up 69.7 on defense. Kevin Hervey is leading the team with 17.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. The Mavericks have a few injury issues as Jalen Jones is out with a thumb injury. He averaged 12.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Jorge Bilbao is averaging 9.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this season but battling a stomach bug.

Bet on NIT Tournament

BYU has the more-talented team that is clearly able to play at a high level. Arlington has a pretty good defensive team, but the Cougars have the offense to rise above that. Even with the injury to Bryant, BYU still has plenty of players to lead the way. Arlington already has injury issues of their own, so I don’t see the Mavericks being able to hang with BYU tonight.

 

NIT TOURNAMENT PREDICTION: BYU -6